Ontario school support workers may stage 1-day walkouts

School support workers in Ontario may join teachers in staging one-day walkouts if the province acts on Bill 115.

The legislation gives school workers until Dec. 31 to reach collective agreements or the government will impose contracts.

CUPE Ontario's 55,000 early childhood educators, bus drivers, secretaries and lunchroom supervisors are considering their options now that the deadline is looming.

Union president Fred Hahn said Education Minister Laurel Broten must give his members more time.

"Overriding our collective bargaining rights creates more crisis than it creates solutions," said Hahn. "If the minister doesn't reconsider this arbitrary and unreasonable deadline, we will be left with no other choice then to invoke our right for political protest."

Hahn said any action would only take place if contracts are forced on his members.